6 Benefits of CBD Oil for Athletes Who Play Impact Sports

Written by Jason Brett — Edited by Cathy Rozyczko on January 7, 2022

Athletes who participate in impact sports put a great deal of stress on their minds and bodies. Unfortunately, current methods for treating injuries, strains, and other ailments that athletes face often come with unwanted, and even dangerous, side effects.

This has led many athletes to turn to CBD oil to find relief.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of over 100 compounds known as cannabinoids that occur naturally in the hemp plant. Unlike THC, which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, CBD oil provides the health benefits these plants are known for without the psychoactive effects.

This makes CBD oil a great option for impact athletes looking to find relief from daily aches and pains without having to worry about harsh side effects or facing repercussions for using a prohibited substance.

In fact, recent years have seen many professional athletes in impact sports start using, and promoting the benefits of, CBD oil; and everyone from NFL athletes to Olympic gymnasts have reported finding relief through its regular use.

Yet, athletes who are not familiar with CBD may be skeptical of its effectiveness, or they may be unaware of how it could benefit them. To help you learn more about how CBD can boost your performance, here is a look at just a few of the benefits that CBD oil can provide impact athletes with.

1. Pain Relief

For many impact athletes, pain becomes a way of life. However, when the pain becomes so severe that the “mind-over-matter” philosophy no longer works and performance is being hindered, you may not have many options.

At this point, many impact athletes face deciding between taking painkillers (which can have unpleasant or even dangerous side effects) or stepping back from their way of life indefinitely, or until they recover.

Fortunately, CBD oil may provide these athletes with another option.

For centuries, people have used CBD as a natural painkiller. With CBD oil, athletes can find relief from their pain without having to turn to dangerous prescription painkillers. While more research is being done into how CBD provides pain relief, early studies have begun to demonstrate its effectiveness at providing relief for a variety of conditions that cause chronic pain.

2. An Alternative to Opioids

Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic in this country is a very real threat, particularly for athletes willing to go to great lengths to find relief from the pain associated with a chronic injury.

However, while opioids are extremely effective at providing pain relief, they also carry a high risk of addiction and death by overdose. In fact, in 2018 alone over 45,000 Americans died from opioid use.

While CBD may not be as strong of a painkiller as opioids, it has been shown to provide significant relief for people with mild-to-moderate chronic pain. Furthermore, CBD is a less risky option as it is not addictive and causes minimal side effects such as diarrhea, dry mouth, and changes in appetite.

3. Reduce Anxiety

Even for seasoned athletes, it is not uncommon to experience some form of anxiety, particularly before a major event or competition. In fact, a little anxiety can be a good thing in impact sports, as it can give you the motivation to do your best. However, problems can arise when you experience overwhelming amounts of anxiety, either on a regular basis or resulting from performance anxiety when in front of a crowd.

Intense anxiety can make it difficult to focus, which can greatly hinder training and performance. Some people may even find that their performance anxiety keeps them from excelling at a sport they are great at.

This is where CBD might prove to be highly beneficial.

Multiple studies have shown that CBD oil can be an extremely effective treatment for anxiety. Even in small doses, it has helped people with acute anxiety, chronic anxiety, and social anxiety. This can be particularly helpful for people with performance anxiety, as CBD oil can give them the courage to go out and do their best.

4. Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is also a common struggle for impact athletes. While a little bit of inflammation can be a good thing, chronic inflammation can cause pain, sickness, and even weight gain.

Additionally, after an injury, inflammation can be a barrier to a swift and easy recovery. While NSAIDs are a conventional treatment for pain and inflammation, they aren't always enough. And, as we previously mentioned, they can cause unwanted side effects.

Whether you are looking for additional inflammation relief on top of traditional medications, or you want to try a more holistic treatment option, CBD might provide the relief you are looking for as a 2010 study found CBD to be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Good news for athletes everywhere.

5. Promotes Muscle Relaxation

Every athlete knows that post-workout feeling. After a particularly rough workout session, your muscles can end up feeling so tight and cramped that you won't even feel like moving!

Fortunately, CBD has been shown to be a potent muscle relaxant. It is believed that this is because CBD helps GABA (the nervous system's main inhibitory neurotransmitter) work better by influencing GABA-A receptors.

Essentially, CBD can promote muscle relaxation by influencing the internal system that helps still, quiet, and calm the body. CBD can then not only help to relieve and soothe tight muscles, helping you to bounce back quicker after tough workouts, but it can also help to promote the overall health of your muscles and joints.

You can therefore proactively help prevent potential strains and injuries.

6. Improves Recovery

Of course, for impact athletes, it is almost inevitable that you will be sidelined at some point by a pulled muscle or an injury of some kind. Fortunately, athletes are discovering that CBD can help to facilitate recovery, particularly from muscle-related injuries.

Just as CBD can help to relax muscles, muscles are also able to use CBD to heal faster and reduce feelings of tension. Furthermore, we have previously highlighted how CBD can help provide pain relief and reduce anxiety, which can make CBD oil extremely valuable in helping you to feel comfortable during post-workout recovery.

Wrap-up

For athletes, CBD has been shown to provide a variety of benefits that can help them to boost performance and increase their overall sense of well-being. Contact us to learn more about how you could benefit from incorporating CBD into your wellness routine.

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